The Waltham 1872 model, "Stone Mountain," 16-size pocket watch, illustrated on our front cover, is the rare "crystal plate" watch which was produced at the Waltham factory by William R. Wills, foreman of the jewelry department, around the late 1880s and the early 1890s. It is unknown how many of these were produced, but No. 12 is certainly one of the earliest. In mint condition, it is a rare find indeed. The case is solid gold, plain polished, screw back with bezel display case, thicker overall than the usual '72 model to allow for the extra height of the rock crystal plate. The dial is double-sunk, signed "A.W. Co. Waltham" in gothic style script, with a most unusual layout of radial Arabic numerals. The movement, signed "American Waltham Watch Co. No.12," is a 17-jewel with lever-set escapement and free-sprung Breguet hair spring. Timing adjustment is by manipulation of the chronometer style balance wheel gold timing screws. Both the finely damascened lower plate and escape wheel are gold-gilded. The solid gold train wheels, in red ruby jewels, appear to float in the clear rock crystal top plate. The effect, together with the contrast of the damascened winding wheels and blued-steel hair spring and stud, is spectacular. Discovered by Barry Parker of First Australian Chapter 72 and photographed professionally by Silvano Tonini, Silverwater, Australia, the watch is kindly displayed courtesy of an anonymous collector. See Michael Harrold's article on Waltham, page 581. |
